Bevel-square.



L. SPIES.

BEVEL SQUARE.

APPLICATION FILED mnnso, 1913.

Patented Mar. 31, 1914.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

IIYVLNI OR Lou/s 5,0125 BY 4 'Cu/ uk ATTORNEY.

WITNESSES: Q. W

COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH co.,wAsmNu'roN, n.c4

L. SPIES.

BEVBL SQUARE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 30, 1913. 1,09 1,978. Patented Mar. 31, 1914.

4 SHEETS-*SHEETB 2.

/z 4 ///%Z 4* y- I 1' 12 0 ia- WITNESSES: 0/ INVENTIOR.

' Lou/5 Spzes- 573W 1 MW ATTORNEY.

COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH CO.,WASHINGTDN. D. c-.

- L. SPIES. I BEVEL SQUARE. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 30, 1913.

Patented Mar. 31, 1914.

' 4 SHEETS-SHEET a.

IIITNESSES: 2. W

IN VEZYTOR. Lou/5 5 04 @5- ATTORNEY.

COLUMBIA PLANDORAPH 60.,WA5HINOTON. n. c.

L. SPIES.

BEVBL SQUARE.

APPLICATION FILED .nnmao, 191s.

Patented Mar. 31, 1914.

BIL

INVENTOR.

WITNESSES:

Lou/s Spzes ATTORNEY.

TTD STATES PATENT OFFICE;

LOUIS SPIES, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

BEVEL-SQUARE.

Application filed June 30, 1913.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LOUIS Srms, citizen of the United States, residing at St. L0u1s, State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bevel-Squares, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof.

My invention has relation to improvements in bevel squares; and it consists in the novel features of construction more fully set forth in the specification and pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan of the square as viewed from one side; Fig. 2 is an edge view of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a plan of the square as viewed from the opposite slde; Fig. 4 is a transverse section on the line l l of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view showing the lettering on the face or side corresponding to Fig. 1; Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic view showing the lettering on the opposite side or that shown in Fig. 3; Figs. 7 8, 9, and 10 are diagrammatic views showing different modes of applying the square; and Figs. 11 and 12 are diagrammatic plan and elevational views of the roofing members to which the present square is applicable.

The present invention is directed to an instrument which finds special application in connection with rafters of a pitch roof, the object of the invention being to provide a square with an oscillating member cooperating with a series of graduated arcs in such manner that knowing the number of inches rise per foot of common run, or the pitch of the roof, the carpenter may set the said member to the proper positions for respectively determining the angles establishing the plumb and bottom cuts of the common and jack rafters; the length of common rafter per foot of run; the bevel cut of jack rafters; the plumb cut of hip or valley rafters; the length of hip or valley rafters per foot of common run; and the bevel cut of hip or valley rafters.

A. further object is to provide an instru ment which will serve as an ordinary square; one which may be set to establish a bevel for the miter cut of an equilateral octagon, or a square; and further to provide Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 31, 1914:.

Serial No. 776,580.

an instrument having further and other advantages better apparent from a detailed description thereof which is as follows Referring to the drawings, and for the present to Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive, 1, l, represent the legs of the square disposed as usual at right angles to one another, the leg 1 being the longer. Disposed between the legs, and extending from the outer end of the leg 1 to an intermediate point along the leg 1 is a scale-plate 2 on opposite sides or faces of which are disposed properly scaled or graduated arcs, there being four independent arcs on each face of the plate, to-Wit: arcs a, b, 0, (Z, on one face, and arcs e, f, g. h, on the opposite face. The are a is scaled to indicate inches rise per foot of run that is to say, what is known as common run and which will presently be again referred to; the arc Z) is scaled to indicate the bevel cut of jack rafters; the are 0 is scaled to indicate the length of common rafters per foot of run the are (Z is scaled to indicate the plumb cut of common and jack rafters; the are e is scaled to indicate the pitch of roof; the arc f is scaled to indicate the bevel cut of hip or valley rafters; the are 9 is scaled to indicate the length of hip or valley rafters per foo-t of common run; and are it is scaled to indicate the plumb cut of hip or valley rafters. Adapted to oscillate about the axis of a screw-stud 3 disposed at the intersection of the extensions of the inner edges of the legs 1, 1, is a member formed preferably of a single piece of metal plate bent double or in the shape of a flat U, so as to span or envelop the scale plate 2, the arms 1 of the Ushaped member thus formed being bent into parallelism with the faces of the plate 2, whereby the arms will lie close to said faces. The sides of the respective arms 1 are provided with flanges 5, 5, bent at right angles to the faces of the arms as shown. The member comprising the arms 4;, 4:, may be tightened more or less about its pivotal stud by a tightening screw 6, there being mounted in addition at the free end of said member a set screw 7 adapted to engage the outer periphery or edge of the plate 2, to firmly hold the member l, d, in any position to which it may have been swung along the arcs referred to, or to enter any one of the peripheral notches n for permanently locking the swinging member against movement, the purpose of which notches will be presently referred to.

For convenience, the member 4, 4, will be hereinafter referred to as the index member (either arm 4 being in fact such a member) because it carries or has marked thereon the necessary indices cooperating with the division marks of the arcs on the scale-plate 2. For example, the arm 4 opposite the arcs a, Z), 0, cl, has a central index line L cocperating with the division marks of any of the arcs; and the arm 4 opposite the arcs e, f, g, it, has a corresponding index line L, portions of the material of the plate from which said arms are formed being removed so as to leave openings 0 through which the divisions on the several scales or arcs may be read. Preferably too, the surfaces which carry the lines L, L, are beveled to an edge at the sides of the openings 0 whereby the index lines will lead to the surfaces carrying the markings on the arc-scales, and there will be little or no strain on the eyes in reading the scales. The presence of the openings 0, O, virtually cuts up each index line L, L, into three sections, the middle section of the line L cooperating with scales 6, 0, and the outer sections with scales a and d respectively, and the middle section of the line L cooperating with scales f, g, and the outer sections with the scales 6, it, respectively, as clearly obvious from the drawings.

In order to better explain the application of the invention to the framing .of. a roof, reference will be made temporarily to Figs. 11 and 12. The rise of a roof is the vertical distance between the top of the ridge R and being measured from these points (0, 0, on

Fig. 12) to the center of the top of the ridge. The rafters may be common rafters C, jackrafters J, hip rafters H, or valley rafters V. The distance between the points 0, 0, on

opposite common rafters Cis equal to twice.

the length of common run For example, in Fig. 12 if the rise is 10 feet, the common run is one-half the distance between the points 0, 0, of said rafters C, being hereshown supported on the walls W, W. In the illustration this distance is 24 feet making the common run fora roof as shown'onehalf of 24 or 12 feet. In other words the common run is the length of the base of a right angled triangle whose rise is the perpendicular, and whose hypothenuse is substantially a line measured from the point 0 (Fig. 12) along the upper edge of the rafter C to the middle of the top of the ridge R. The common run maylikewise be considered as the horizontal projection of the common rafter, In the illustration we thus have a rise of ten inches for every foot of common run (or run) or ten feet risefor twelve feet of common run. Sometimes the relation isexpressed by the pitch of the roof said pitch being calculated as follows :For example, if the rise is 12 feet and the total distance between the points 0, 0, of the common rafters is 24 feet, then the pitch of the roof is said to be one-half; that is to say it is the ratio between the rise and twice the common run. In the illustration (Fig. 12) the pitch would be ten twenty-fourths or on the scale forming the base of subsequent calculations as will more fully appear from a description of the operation and mode of application of the device to the roof elements, which operation is substantially as follows: Let us assume that we have a roof pitched to a rise of ten inches per foot of common run, or ten, feet rise to twelve feet of common run, the roof being under the circumstances a ten-twenty-fourths or fivetwelfths pitch. Let us now turn the instrument to the left (Fig. 1) and swing the arm 4 until the inner section of the index line .L is opposite the 10 mark on the scale of the are a. The middle section of the index line L will point to approximately 15.625 or 15% on. the scale 0 meaning that the length of the common rafter per foot of run is 15% inches, the total length of rafter between the middle of the top of the ridge R and the point 0 of the rafter on the wall W being 187.5 inches. The middle section of the index line L will likewise point to about the number 50 on the scale 5, this indicating an angle of 50 degrees which the outer edge of the leg 1 makes with the adjacent flange 5 of the arm 4, said angle determining the angle of plumb cut of the common and jack rafters. For this position of the index arm or member 4, the outer section of the index line L Will point to 37-} on the scale of arc (Z which is the proper arc to which the plumb cut of the common and jack rafters is referred. This scale (CZ) is a mere arbitrary one worked out by experiment and in the present device serves as a base for subsequent calculations, being referred to, and operating in conjunction with, the marks on subsequent arcs. For example, with the index set to 10 on the are .a we ascertain at a glance the length of common rafters per foot of run (arc c), and the plumb cut of the common and jack rafters.

By now shifting the arm at (see dotted position Fig. 1) until the middle index section L comes opposite 37. on scale I), we determine the angle for the bevel cut of the jack rafters, that is to say, itis the angle which the planeof the cut makes with the edge of the rafter. By now turning the instrument to the right (Fig. 8) and swinging the arm 4 until the outer section of the line L comes opposite 37!, on the arc h We secure the angle defining the plumb cut of the hip and valley rafters, in which position of the arm the middle section of the line L will point to 19% on the scale 9, indicating that the length of the hip or valley rafters per foot of common run is 19?; inches, from which the total length may readily be calculated. By now swinging the arm 4 until the middle section of the index line L comes opposite 37-)- on are f (see dotted position Fig. 3) we bring the arm to a position defining the angle of bevel cut of the hip or valley rafters. It may be stated in passing that the complement of the angle defining the plumb cut of the common and jack rafters will define the bottom out for the same rafters, this complement being the angle between the outer edge of the short leg 1 and the adjacent flange 5 of the arm 1. Those who are better familiar with the pitch of roof base of calculation would first set the arm 4 to bring the inner section of the index line L to a point one-third the distance between the marks a and on the are e or to What would amount to 10/24 pitch, when by simply turning over the instrument the inner index section L would point to 10 on the are a, after which the several results may be obtained as already described.

The application of the device to a board or rafter is indicated diagrammatically in Figs. 7 to 10 inclusive. Assuming that the arm 4 is swung to the first position indicated in Fig. 1, the carpenter brings the flange 5 facing the leg 1 against the edge of the board (C or J) and cuts the same along the line 00. This gives him the plumb cut (at the top) for either a common or jack rafter (Fig. 7). By placing the flange 5 facing the leg 1 against the opposite edge of the opposite end of the board and marking off the line 9 he gets the line determining the horizontal or bottom out of either a common or jack rafter. The bottom plumb-cut along the line 2? may be marked off the same as the line as or by simply squaring it to the line j/ in the ordinary way, said line 2? being perpendicular to the line 2 Assuming the arm 4 to be swung to the dotted position shown in Fig. 1, the carpenter places the flange 5 facing the leg 1 against the face of the board adjacent the plumb cut and cuts along the line 1' which gives him the bevel cut for the jack rafter (Fig. 8). Assuming the arm to be swung to the full position in Fig. 3, and

placing the flange 5 facing the leg 1 against the edge of the board, he cuts along the line m which gives him the plumb cut for a hip 'or valley rafter (Fig. 9); and finally assuch hip or valley rafter, and marking ofl' the lines m, on, he gets the bevel cut for the hip or valley rafter (Fig. 10).

The scale cl although determining the angle for the plumb and bottom cuts of the common and jack rafters, serves as an arbitrary scale or variable constant for deter mining the angle of any bevel cut for the jack rafters, determining further the point to which the outer index section L shall be set on the scale it for the plumb cut of the hip and valley rafters, and the length of hip or valley rafter per foot of common run simultaneously indicated on scale 9, and also determining the point to which the middle in dex section L, shall be set on the scale f for determining the angle of bevel cut for said hip or valley rafter. The protractor (or degree) scale Z) is used in connection with the arm 4 for any suitable purpose, as for example in determining angles for miter joints of octagons when the arm may be swung to a point where the flange 5 makes an angle of 67%; degrees at which point it may be permanently held by the set-screw 7 entering one of the notches n in the outer edge of the plate 2. Obviously the scale 6 with the arm 4: may be used to lay ofi' any angle of a quadrant for any purpose as quite obvious from the drawings.

Having described my invention, what I claim is 2- 1. In combination with a square having ruling edges intersecting at right angles, a scale plate between said edges provided with an arc graduated in terms of inches rise per foot of common run in a pitch roof, a second protractor are suitably graduated, a third are arbitrarily graduated but referable to the protractor arc, an arm pivoted to the square and traversing the scale plate and provided with indices cooperating with the several arcs, the index arm when set to any given graduation on the first are indicating on the third arc the graduation to which the arm shall be set on the protractor are for determining the angle of bevel cut of the ack rafter.

2. In combination with a square having ruling edges intersecting at right angles, a scale plate between said edges provided with an arc graduated in terms of inch rise to the foot of common run in a pitch roof, a second arc graduated arbitrarily and serving as a base for subsequent calculations, a third graduated arc, an arm pivoted to the square and traversing said scale-plate and provided with inclices cooperating with said arcs, the index arm when set to any given graduation on the first are indicating on the second arc the graduation to which the arm shall be set on the third are for determining the angle of plumb cut of the hip and valley rafters, a fourth arc graduated in terms of length of hip or valley rafter per foot of common run, the index arm indicating such length on said fourth are when set to'its proper position on the third are aforesaid.

3. In combination with a square having ruling edges intersecting at right angles, a scale plate between said edges provided with an arc graduated in terms of inch rise per foot of common run in a pitch roof, a second arc graduated arbitrarily and serving as a base or variable constant for subsequent calculations, a third graduated are, an arm pivoted to the square and traversing said scale-plate and provided with indices cooperating with said arcs, the index arm when set to any given graduation on the first are indicating on the second arc the graduation to which the arm shall be set on the third are for determining the angles of bevel cut for the hip and valley rafters.

4. In combination with a square having straight ruling edges intersecting at right angles, a scale plate spanning the space be tween said edges and provided on one face with an arc graduated in termsof inches rise per foot of run in a pitch roof, a second protractor are suitably graduated and identified with the designation of bevel cut of jack rafters, a third are graduated in terms of length of common rafters per foot of run, a fourth arc graduated arbitrarily and forming a variable constant involved as an element in calculations with the second arc, and on the opposite face with an are having graduations directly referable to the arbitrarily graduated are on the first face and identified with the notation ofplumb cut of common and jack rafters, with a second arc indicating the length of hip or valley rafter per foot of common run for any given division on the first ggiduated arc aforesaid, and with a third arc graduated to indicate the bevel cut of a hip or valley rafter, an

index member having arms cooperating with the opposite faces of the scale-plate and with the arcs thereof, and having index lines p0 sitioned to operate with the respective arcs for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

V LOUIS SZPIES. WVitnesses EMIL STAREK,

Jos. A. MICHEL.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. 0'. 

